2027 Chevrolet Traverse All-Wheel Drive and Winter Driving in Plainfield, IL from Webb Chevy Plainfield

Webb Chevy Plainfield | (815) 436-2071 | 16140 S Lincoln Hwy, Plainfield, IL 60586

Does the 2027 Chevrolet Traverse come with all-wheel drive?

Yes, in two ways. All-wheel drive is a $2,000 option on the LT and the RS. On the Z71 it is standard equipment and comes paired with a raised ride height. Every version keeps the same 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder with 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic, so the drivetrain choice changes traction rather than power.

That distinction matters for how you shop. You are not buying a faster vehicle with all-wheel drive. You are buying a vehicle that puts the same 326 lb-ft down more reliably on a bad surface.

Starting MSRP shown. Excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Ask Webb Chevy Plainfield for current figures on a specific unit.

How much does all-wheel drive help on Will County roads in winter?

The moments all-wheel drive earns its money are specific and short. Pulling away from a stop sign on a packed-snow side street in Plainfield. Climbing an unplowed entrance ramp to I-55 at six in the morning before the trucks have been through. Crossing a slush-covered intersection on S Lincoln Hwy when the light changes and you need to go now rather than in three seconds.

Will County does not get mountain weather, but it gets a reliable stretch of January where secondary roads around Shorewood, Joliet and the unincorporated edges stay ugly for days. That is a traction problem, and all-wheel drive is a traction answer.

What does all-wheel drive cost me at the pump?

The trade is documented and small. Front-wheel-drive 2027 Traverse models are rated 20 city, 26 highway and 22 combined. The Z71 with all-wheel drive is rated 20 city, 24 highway and 21 combined.

City fuel economy is identical at 20 mpg either way, so the entire all-wheel-drive penalty is 2 mpg on the highway and 1 mpg combined. A driver whose miles are mostly short runs around Plainfield and Naperville pays almost nothing for the traction. A driver logging long daily I-355 stretches is the one who should actually weigh the highway figure.

Is the Z71 the right winter choice, or should I just add AWD to an LT?

Both are defensible. An LT with the $2,000 all-wheel-drive option lands at a lower total than the $49,100 Z71 and gets you the same traction principle. The Z71 adds the raised ride height, which is the piece an LT with AWD does not replicate.

Decide by where you actually park and drive. If your driveway drifts, if you turn onto roads the plow reaches last, or if you regularly deal with a rutted lot, the raised ride height is worth talking about. If you live on a well-plowed street off Route 30 and simply want winter confidence, an AWD LT is the efficient answer.

What else matters in winter besides the drivetrain?

• Tires do more winter work than any drivetrain. All-wheel drive helps you go; tires help you stop and turn.
• Cargo behavior changes in winter. The 98 cubic foot maximum cargo volume swallows a snowblower, salt bags and winter sports gear.
• Hands-free access matters more in February. The AutoSense Power Liftgate opens without setting anything down in the slush.
• More than 20 standard safety and driver assistance features come on every trim, including the $40,800 LT.
• Get the vehicle checked before the first hard freeze. The Webb Chevy Plainfield service line is (815) 230-6041.

How does Traverse all-wheel drive compare with the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander?

Both SUVs charge you fuel economy for the second driven axle, and Toyota starts from the better place on gas. Grand Highlander gas models are rated 21 city, 28 highway and 24 combined in front-wheel drive and 20 city, 26 highway and 22 combined with all-wheel drive. The Traverse is 20/26/22 in front-wheel drive and 20/24/21 for the Z71 with all-wheel drive, which means Toyota’s gas all-wheel-drive rating matches the Traverse’s front-drive rating. On the Traverse, all-wheel drive is a $2,000 option on the LT and RS and standard on the Z71 with a raised ride height. If winter efficiency is the whole point, Toyota’s standard Hybrid is rated about 37 city and 34 highway, though that is a front-wheel-drive figure and it tows only 3,500 lbs.

Traverse figures are Chevrolet published. Grand Highlander figures are Toyota published for the 2026 model year. One caution on the price row: the Grand Highlander starting figure already includes a $1,495 destination charge and the Traverse LT figure does not, so add destination to both before you call one cheaper. Call (815) 436-2071 and we will print a side by side sheet with destination on both columns.

Where do I find an all-wheel-drive Traverse near Plainfield?

Webb Chevy Plainfield had 20 units of the 2027 Traverse in stock as of August 10, 2026 at 16140 S Lincoln Hwy in Plainfield. Ask specifically for all-wheel-drive examples, because front-wheel-drive units are on the lot too. Webb Chevy Plainfield and Webb Chevy Oak Lawn share inventory, so an AWD unit you spotted online may be parked at the other store and we may send you there for it. Call (815) 436-2071 and we will sort that out before you make the drive.

This article is part of the full 2027 Chevrolet Traverse guide from Webb Chevy Plainfield. Read the complete overview at https://www.webbchevyplainfield.com/2027-chevrolet-traverse/.

Key takeaways

• Expect to add $2,000 for all-wheel drive on a 2027 Traverse LT or RS, while the Z71 includes it.
• The Z71 also rides at a raised height, which an AWD-equipped LT does not replicate.
• Z71 AWD is rated 20 city / 24 highway / 21 combined against 20 / 26 / 22 for front-wheel drive.
• City economy is 20 mpg either way, so short-trip Plainfield drivers pay almost nothing for the traction.
• The drivetrain choice changes traction, not power: every trim has 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque.
• Tires still do more winter work than any drivetrain, and 98 cubic feet of cargo volume handles the winter gear.
• Webb Chevy Plainfield had 20 units in stock on August 10, 2026 and shares inventory with Webb Chevy Oak Lawn.

Frequently asked questions